I'm so far enjoying catching up reading some of the threads here in the History section. Recently I bothered to find some interesting details about the origin of my clan name, and I am curious about some of you out there.

Surnames originated out of the need for local governments to issue taxes on their populations, this is why most surnames have a distinctive profession or a locale tied to their etymology.

Sooo, Whats in a name?

Wood

Origins - England & Scotland

Variants - Woods, Wode, Woodd, Woode, Wod, Wode

Background - Possibly referring merely to those who lived in and/or around "the woods". However, in such times nearly every town was located in such surroundings. There are other possible derivations such as the Old English Wod, Wad, and Middle English Wod, Wode which were nicknames for an "Eccentric or Wild, Frenzied" person. While the latter is a much less common interpretation of the surname, I did see that one of the Wood family crests shows what appears to be a half-naked barbarian warrior wielding a club.

My father's male side of the family also has a history of being abnormally tall(6'5+) as well as having short tempers, which could possibly suit the "frenzied warrior" title. So now, I apparrently have an excuse the next time a girlfriend refers to me as a psycho. :lol:

 

There are several sites out there you can use. Even Wikipedia has information on most common surnames.

However there are specific databases out there as well, such as http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=wood

Also

http://genealogy.about.com/od/surname_meaning/p/wood.htm

http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Wood

 

Interesting you bring up Smith. I was under the same impression, but apparently there are other possible meanings. It goes back to the word "Smitan", which meant to Smite, or Strike. It became an extremely popular surname in the old times which has obviously carried over to current ages.

I pulled this from the Internet Surname DB.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/smith#ixzz1ASoA7QFo
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Mine is kind of strange..... "Justice-Who is like god-Frenzied"

If I could go back and give myself a name, I would have taken "The Dude-Who Abides"

 

I always thought you were doing a play on "Phenomenal", which would give credence to the fact that you also grew up watching Marino sling the ball around and not the garbage we have had to put up with since then. ;)